Second Visit Removes Asphalt Spill Leftovers

Crews had to return to an asphalt spill near St. Maries after earlier efforts failed to remove all of some 4,000 gallons of liquid asphalt.

The removal of 45 cubic yards of contaminated soil was finished Thursday, according to Kreg Beck, of the Idaho Division of Environmental Quality. Beck had originally signed off on the cleanup of asphalt dumped by a Bulk Service Transport tanker trailer on state Highway 3 Sept. 8. Company crews didn’t remove all the asphalt from near Rainy Hill Road because “they were under the impression that that amount could be considered part of the road base,” Beck said. A neighbor later noticed oily seepage coming off the site as the liquid asphalt came up through the gravel. Beck said the asphalt didn’t contaminate surrounding soil or water.